Having recently released their fourth
album, the entity know as Ordo
(Rosarius) Equilibrio has presented a striking work stocked
with Dark Folk elements and Erotic interplay. Tomas Pettersson has
parted ways with Chelsea Krook since the project previous achievement,
"Conquest, Love and Self
Perserverance", and has since found a new partner in Love
& War in Miss Rosemary Larsen. Given these facts and the recent
addition of the band's full CD catalogue to our selection of products,
the time was just about right to have a little chat with Mr. Tomas
himself.

Greetings, Tomas. Cold Meat Industry has recently
released Make Love , Ordo Rosarius Equilibrios
fourth album and also the one which took the longest to complete,
if Im not mistaken, even though it is your shortest in length.
Why such a long absence?
Following the accomplishment of "Conquest, Love & Self
Perseverance", I felt emptied of creativity and inspiration,
and I consequently had to impart myself time in attempt to rediscover
the requisite incentive to proceed with the spawning of a new recording;
a duration which apparently was an approximate two years.

This is also the first album after the split between you and
Chelsea and with the new name Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. What else
except the name has changed for Ordo Equilibrio with Chelseas
split?
Without seeking to degrade or trivialize Chelseas previous
involvement, I believe it is indeed so, that it was seemly and rewarding
at the time of its occurrence by means of imparting a female voice
and appearance; but reckoning her participation in retrospective,
I believe it was similarly reproving and impeding by means of reluctance
and antipathy, preventing Ordo Equilibrio to ripen and evolve,
and hence attain its factual and complete potential. Something I
particularly have come to realize in association with Rosemary,
who by virtue of considerable beauty, compatibility and incarnated
enthusiasm, imparts the possibility of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio
undertaking the appearance of its ripened self. That is how the
music and essence of ORE has evolved in circumference to
Chelseas departure and Rosemary involvement.
Chelseas former participation did not alter the objectives
or outcome of my operations at the time, and I consequently doubt
that her departure will. The intrinsic essence of Ordo Equilibrio
is I and I still withstand; and I consequently and sincerely doubt
that her departure has or will affect ORE in any conspicuous
or substantial way; past, present and/or future. The female essence
of ORE has likewise been restored; a wedlock between roses
& equilibrium has occurred, perfecting the synthesis through
the unification of Roses and Equilibrium, making two become one
as to signify the ascent of Equilibrium into Perfection and Balance
- Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio / The Order of Roses & Balance.

I
suppose some were expecting a replacement for Chelsea to be found.
Has the case been considered or do you plan to carry on the project
as a one-man endeavor from now on?
As you and other apparently know, the condition of Ordo Rosarius
Equilibrio has changed since the release of "Conquest,
Love & Self Perseverance" in July 1998. Chelsea Krook decided
to resign her participation from the constellation and is no longer
incarnated as part of "Make Love, And War" and the future
operation of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. But the female incorporation
of ORE has however been balanced. The girl who participated
on stage in Neerpelt Belgium on August 4th, calmly and seemingly
unconcerned reading Dostojevski was Rosemary Larsen, my beloved
girlfriend associate since almost two years and the recently initiated
female constituent of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. And hence
claiming that ORE is a one-man venture is incorrect.

Regarding the name change, was this simply a consequence of the
Chelseas departure or were these separate matters? Why the
addition of Rosarius to the name?
I did not feel any imperative need to change the name Ordo Equilibrio
into Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, but as roses is and always
have been intimately affiliated to the aesthetic and lyrical essence
of Ordo Equilibrio  roses establishing the aesthetic
essence on each side of I4I - Among the roses where
I stand, torn and scratched disguised by blood, The Perplexity
of Hybris, I Glorify Myself - Cleft of Stainless Rose
- We stood alone where roses grew, Where Happiness Ruled
and so forth; and as my beloved girlfriend Rosemary unexpectedly
entered my setting almost two years ago; I merely decided to unite
Roses and Equilibrium as to signify the ascent of Equilibrium into
Perfection and Balance. Not in order to signify Chelseas departure.
I could have decided not to utilize this particular variation and
consequently maintain the name Ordo Equilibrio intact without
the incorporation of Rosarius, but as this was something that ensued
naturally I feel that this alteration does not in any sentient way,
change and/or bewilder the orientation and essence of Ordo Equilibrio.

Youve had a few contributions in the past for live performances
and also for recordings, if Im not mistaken. Were there any
on the new album? I seem to have noticed some female vocals in the
background somewhere which are apparently uncredited?
There are no auxiliary contributors as part of any foregoing accomplishment
besides "Conquest, Love & Self Perseverance" where
Fredrik Bergström of No Festival of Light partakes on
one song playing drums. And the incorporated female vocals are consequently
the contribution of Rosemary.

The erotic contents seem slightly more subtle these days. A consequence
of Chelseas absence, somehow ?
Nothing is relative to Chelseas participation or absence,
past present or future.
Every single recording cant be identical in aesthetics, atmosphere
and content to its predecessors. That would merely make everything
a clone of everything else.

Also, the obvious anti-Christian stand noted on The Triumph
of Light... seems to have been dismissed these days, isnt
that so?
How interesting would it be listening to the same propositions and
arguments over and over and over again?
You and numerous others already know my perspective on Christianity,
so why keep repeating it?

On the other hand, there is a more militaristic/war-related approach
to the whole concept, which reflects in the music as well. Will
we see the project developing further in this direction?It
is seemingly and relatively impossible to foretell the future and
the outcome of our operations. Perhaps our next recording is but
a drone of dismal ambiance, or perhaps a country and western album;
who knows, and earnestly who wants to know?

Apocalyptic/Dark Folk artists tend to be often associated with
right-wing politics by the media and, as such, are often met with
some censorship problems. Have you had any problem of this sort?
I am not politically allied in any direction, neither right nor
left; but I do however maintain personal assessments regarding a
variety of issues  political as well as social, religious
as well as ethical.
I am likewise familiar with the unfortunate incidents of misdirected
prejudice directed towards Death In June and NON at
their visit to Germany a few years back, but I am however glad to
say that I have not yet had the opportunity to suffer the displeasure
of any such incidents.

Would it be fair to say that each of your albums has a special
(even if not exclusive) focus on a particular subject? For instance,
The Triumph of Light... was quite religiously
oriented, whereas on Love, Conquest and Self Perseverance
there was more of a sexually-charged mood to things and now the
new one feel closer to war-related issues?
Each album is invariably an attestation of my particular frame of
mind over a distinct duration of time - the time from genesis to
completion; and its particular title is naturally reflective of
its congregated essence.
Neither album is consciously conceptual; not musically, philosophically,
lyrically, aesthetically or topically, but its title however,
chosen to reflect its individual and particular essence.
Each appointed concept - love, sex, war and religion is possible
to ascertain as part of all works. Making music and writing lyrics
solely in relation to one particular essence would prove utterly
restraining, predictable and exclusively disadvantageous; a practice
far to many already have endeavored and faltered.

Make Love, and War also breaks the tradition established
in the last two albums of having 13 songs each. This didnt
seem quite like a coincidence before, or was it...?
I have never intentionally intended to incarnate thirteen songs
as part of every recording. Utilizing thirteen songs as part of
"The Triumph of Light.... And Thy Thirteen Shadows of Love"
seemed becoming in relation to the thirteen shadows; but utilizing
thirteen songs as part of "Conquest, Love & Self Perseverance"
was merely accidental.

I
found the photo on the CD-tray of Make Love  rather
peculiar. Is it a coincidence that youre wearing a uniform
quite similar to the one that Chelsea used in past Ordo Equilibrio
photos?
Judging from your questions altogether it is quite obvious that
you seem to believe that Chelsea and her erstwhile participation
had considerable impact with regards to the former operations of
Ordo Equilibrio; a conjecture which is not particularly true.
Nothing transpired without my individual incentive - no photos,
no music, no lyrics, and no aesthetics etc., etc. And hence dressing
in white shirt, black stockings and garters, black mini skirt and
black tie has absolutely nothing to do with Chelsea. This particular
dressing is more willingly a uniform I personally consider attractive
and akin to the essence of ORE; the same aesthetic essence
you are making reference to yourself.

The rest of the excellent photos on the booklet deserve a mention
here as well. Tell us a bit about these, please. Youve been
working with this photographer for a while now, correct?
The situation is such that we in fact decided to work with another
photographer for the photographing of "Make Love, And War"
 Andreas Söderberg. The outcome was indeed quite successful,
and Andreas is an excellent photographer whom I believe deserves
any and all recognition akin to his past, present and future work.
Our former photographers name is Jonas Sjögreen. Jonas
is a close friend of ours, and by all means someone well contract
again for the photographic realization of future works.

Work on a video has been announced a long time ago. What is the
status on this at the moment?
So whats there to say about the impending video? It is currently
being assembled and slowly but surely completed as time passes by.
It is being realized in association with video artist Mikael Prey
a.k.a. Fetish 23, and estimated for release during 2001. The video
is conjectured to manifest a comprehensive portrayal of Ordo
Rosarius Equilibrio and the sexual, spiritual and aesthetic
essence it incarnates, and thus feature a handpicked selection of
directed material, conceivable live footage and possibly the incorporation
of spoken and written words.
Some words about Fetish 23. Mikael is a friend of ours in his mid
thirties. He has previously made videos for Death in Junes
"Leopard Flowers", Puissances "Global
Death Rape" and complete full-length videos for White Stains
"Wild Orchids" and Omala "Relics".
With comprehensive skills and experience in the making of experimental
films & video, and with knowledge and dedication to the esoteric,
we figured Mikael was a seemly participant to realize this aesthetic
venture in association with us.

And what about the limited double 7 mentioned on Cold Meat
Industrys catalogue some time ago? When should this be available?
The limited 2 x 7 box "4 Life 4 Love 4 Lust & Roses"
is currently being completed, and as far as my desires are possible
to realize I truly hope for its impending release on March 19th
2001. But whether or not this in fact will be conceivable remains
to be determined as we proceed.

Are there any plans regarding live performances at this moment?
What can be expected of those?
There is the conceivable possibility of a handful of performances
throughout the duration of next year - possibly in Portugal, Spain
and Germany, but likewise the possibility of three performances
in South America.
Dont expect anything and you wont be disappointed.

What is the probability of accomplishing the performance in Portugal?
As far as the current negotiations come through, there will be at
least one performance in Portugal next year; most likely in Porto
together with Raison dÊtre and Sophia;
but as these arrangements are currently being negotiated, everything
yet remains to be determined .